Category: News

Russia PM, Armenia president discuss coop in intl energy projects
By Oksana Polishchuk
ITAR-TASS News Agency
May 14, 2004 Friday
MOSCOW, May 14 — The interaction in international energy projects
and projects of transporting energy carriers were discussed at
the meeting of Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov and Armenian
President Robert Kocharyan on Friday. Moscow “assesses highly the
forming of a reliable and solid infrastructure between Russia and
Armenia in the field of energy,” spokesman for the Russian premier
Alexander Zharov told journalists after the talks.
Mikhail Fradkov also stressed the importance of “all-round economic
ties of Russian constituents with Armenia.” The Russian prime minister
noted the importance of cooperation between the two countries in the
humanitarian sphere and stressed the success of the Days of Russian
Culture in Armenia.
According to Zharov, Fradkov supported “the view about the need of
further regular bilateral contacts for comprehensive development
of positive tendencies in trade and economic cooperation of the
countries.”

Karabakh cannot be part of Baku says EU rapporteur
525 NEWSPAPER, Azerbaijan
May 14 2004
Pier Garton, the European Union’s (EU) rapporteur on the South
Caucasus, said, “Nagorno-Karabakh cannot be subordinated to Baku”
during his visit to Yerevan.
The diplomat believes that firstly the conflicting sides should have
a desire to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh problem.
“[The conflict] can be solved if the peace continues, borders are
opened and people are not discriminated because of their citizenship,”
Garton said.
He drew parallels with Europe, saying that the issue of citizenship
is dwarfed when borders are open.
“I understand that Nagorno-Karabakh cannot be subordinated to Baku
and if Karabakh can provide itself with food and manage to live
independently, it is not important for it to officially be a part of
Azerbaijan or Armenia.”

Foreign ministers meeting yields no results
by Zulfugar Agayev
Baku Sun, Azerbaijan
May 14 2004
BAKU — Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov’s meeting
with his Armenian counterpart Vardan Oskanian in Strasbourg has
yielded no result as the Armenian side rejected a suggestion to
release Azerbaijan’s seven occupied districts in return for opening
communication lines between the two countries, ANS reported on
Thursday.
The 12-13 May meeting was also attended by co-chairs of the Minsk
group of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
(OSCE). The Armenian foreign minister Oskanian told Azerbaijani
reporters that the idea about Armenia’s releasing seven occupied
districts is “absurd and meaningless.”
Azerbaijan’s Mammadyarov had said on his way to the meeting that his
government would not support peace talks if they fail to give real
results. A cease-fire agreement reached between Baku and Yerevan is
frequently violated.

Gulfood 2005 set to capitalise on burgeoning market
zawya
15 May 2004
Gulfood 2005, the largest, most comprehensive and representative
show for the food, hotel & hospitality industry in the Middle East
and North Africa region, has set its sights firmly on accelerated
growth by building on its acknowledged track record as the premier
regional platform for the industry. The show, which takes place from
February 20 to 23, 2005, capitalises on the advantage of being at the
hub of a high-spending and rapidly growing target market, announced
organisers Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC).
The tenth edition of the biennial event, which will be held at the DWTC
Complex, will offer an opportunity to food and hospitality industries
to display the latest developments and technologies as well as network
with fellow professionals located in a region which has recorded
a spectacular growth in tourism and hospitality infrastructure and
which as a result has become one of the key growth areas for both
these sectors. Some 1,304 particiapants from 44 countries including
25 country pavilions took part in the show last year.
The Middle East’s high disposable income, appetite and vision makes it
an increasingly important food and drinks consumer. The region is
also heavily dependant on large scale imports of food and food-related
products, with more than 90% of its needs being met from overseas. This
makes food and food related products in the Gulf a massively important
sector for any international manufacturer, importer or trader.
Gulfood facilitates the development of trade, tastes and trends by
attracting key industry buyers from over 75 countries and its position
is consolidated by Dubai’s key role as the region’s business and
re-exporting hub, being located on the crossroads of three continents
and the centre of a potential market of more than 2 billion people.
Going by early responses, all indications point to a considerably
larger show in 2005. Projected figures indicate a 30 per cent surge
in participation over 2003, which reinforces the fact that Gulfood is
the only exhibition of its kind that provides access to fast-growing
markets in the Middle East, North and East Africa, the GCC, the former
CIS and the booming Indian subcontinent.
The event will welcome new country pavilions from Argentina, Armenia,
Belgium’s Walloon region, India, Iran, Malaysia and South Africa who
have already signed up, with several others also planning to enter
the market for the first time.
Gulfood will once again be supported by Emirates Culinary Guild,
who will host the Emirates International Salon Culinaire 2005,
a four-day extravaganza of seminars, competitions and demonstrations.
Another significant development is the move of the Third Middle East
Food Marketing Forum from its usual January slot to run alongside
Gulfood 2005, which will offer senior managers a specially developed
programme to provide guidance, advice and debate on the latest issues
shaping food product development.
The exhibitor profile for Gulfood 2005 has been developed to include
the food processing, packaging and ingredients segments as well as the
firmly established food, drinks, bakery, foodservice and hospitality
equipment areas. The food processing and packing business in the
Middle East is significant and growing, with much of the technology
being imported. It is a natural and obvious progression, which will
bring synergy to Gulfood.
Gulfood 2003 received 12,000 high quality trade visitors from
71 countries. Exhibitor and visitor information can be found at

Noyan Tapan
May 11 2004
Results of Tender of Video Film Scenarios organized by Pan-Armenian
International Youth Fund to be summed up in late May.
Thirty five individuals and organizations have introduced applications
for participation in tender of video film scenarios organized by
Pan-Armenian International Youth Fund. Astghik Avetisyan, the fund
press secretary informed that the tender results would be summed
up by the end of May. The authors of the best three scenarios will
receive prices.
It was also mentioned that the fund will support the production of
video tapes based on the chosen scenarios and broadcast them on some
Armenian TV Channels.

Vintage Launch for Berger To Grow Market Share
zawya
Dubai May 15th 2004: Berger Paints today announced the launch of its
new Vintage Finish, an exterior textured paint that gives an ancient
look and feel recreating the magic of a bygone era. The Vintage
product, which is aimed directly at new construction projects in the
UAE and the region, is set to help the company grow its market share.
With its unique engraved finish, the Berger Vintage Collection performs
the role of a decorative plaster and finish combining decoration and
protection in one with the added attraction of a vintage look.
Mr. Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem Chairman of Ports, Customs and Free
Zone Corporate commented, “With the dramatic pace of development
and construction taking place in Dubai and the Emirates we are very
fortunate to have a number of quality driven paint suppliers in the
UAE supplying specialist paint for exterior surfaces.”
Berger Paints company officials said that revenues so far this year
have grown over 25%, and the launch of Vintage will help the company
extend revenue growth potential and benefit from the current real
estate and construction boom.
“There is a growing need for new fashionable finishes for exteriors and
our offer comes with the backing of the Berger’s hallmark research
and development,” said Mr. Suresh Mohandas, CEO of Berger Paints
Emirates Ltd. “The new Vintage finish is the first of the several new
products and concepts planned to meet the ever increasing expectations
of the UAE market.”
The new Vintage line was unveiled by Mr. Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem at
a dinner reception held at the One&Only Royal Mirage in the presence
of several leading UAE architects and consultants.
Berger Paints Emirates has its manufacturing unit in Al Quoz Industrial
Estate and services a large area including the UAE, Qatar, Saudi
Arabia, Oman, Africa, Afghanistan and the CIS countries of Armenia,
Khazakstan, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan.

Scholars are ‘ambassadors’ for Va. Tech
4-line readin goes here.
By Kevin Miller, [email protected]
roanoke.com
Saturday, May 15, 2004
BLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech seniors Mathew Cahill and Tim Work were
well re of the quality competition they faced in their quests to land
Fulbright scholarships to Austria. All that either of the two Tech
honor students needed to do was glance at the other’s application.
“Back in the fall when we were applying, we would talk about how it
was going,” Cahill said this week. “And in the end, we were the only
ones left standing.”
Work and Cahill received Fulbright teaching assistantships and research
grants and will head to Vienna in the coming months to teach English
in the public schools and conduct research in their fields of interest.
They were among the nearly 3,500 Tech undergraduates to be honored
during Friday night’s commencement ceremony. Individual colleges and
departments will hold their own graduation ceremonies today .
Named for the late Sen. J. William Fulbright, the Fulbright program
is the U.S. government’s flagship international exchange program that
aims to “increase mutual understanding” and help develop “friendly,
sympathetic and peaceful relations” between the United States and
other nations, according to an informational pamphlet from the
Fulbright Association.
The Fulbright program operates in more than 140 countries worldwide,
providing grants for American students and scholars to work abroad and
for foreign students and scholars to work on U.S. campuses annually.
Five other Virginia Tech students – including just one other
undergraduate – have received Fulbright grants since 1999.
“Mat and Tim are truly extraordinary honors students with excellent
language skills in German,” said Barbara Cowles, associate director
of University Honors. “The University Honors Program and the Campus
Fulbright Committee feel that they will be wonderful ambassadors for
Virginia Tech and the United States.” Work, who double-majored in
history and art history, spent his junior year studying in Marburg,
Germany. The 21-year-old Virginia Beach native said he visited more
than 50 cities in Europe during his stay, which helped whet his
appetite for additional overseas study.
“I would say, with few doubts, that it was the best year of my life,”
Work said. He plans to live and work in Berlin during the summer
before beginning his studies at Vienna’s Ludwig-Boltzmann Institute for
Urban History Research. Work said he would like to study at Cambridge
University in England after completing the nine-month Fulbright
program. He eventually hopes to become an art history professor.
Cahill, 22, also already has extensive experience abroad. He spent
the fall semester of his junior year studying German politics in
Munich and then the spring semester interning at the U.S. Embassy in
Vienna. Cahill also worked as an election observer in Armenia with
the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, which works
on security and economic issues, human rights and election monitoring
in 55 participating states in Europe, Central Asia and North America.
Cahill, who double-majored in international studies and German,
said he hopes the Fulbright program will open additional doors for him.
“My ultimate career goal is to be an ambassador,” said Cahill, who grew
up in Williamsburg. Explaining his attraction to Vienna, Cahill added:
“It’s pretty much the center of East and West coming together.”

Curtain rises for Eurovision
By Sibel Utku Bila
The Age
May 16, 2004
Istanbul – Two dozen nations are set to battle for the crown in
Eurovision, the pan-continental song fest which attracts millions of
viewers worldwide despite the much-derided quality of its music.
The 49-year-old event, strongly ritualised by many and mocked
by others, this year offers a variety of attractions ranging from
whirling dervishes and dancers akin to leather-clad hobbits, to an
abundance of ethnic tunes and theatrical floorshows.
The contest is taking place amid heavy police presence, prompted by
several massive al-Qaeda-linked suicide bombings that hit the host city
Istanbul, Turkey’s biggest metropolis, last November, and in March.
About 2000 officers, some special forces armed with automatic rifles,
were on duty at the venue, a police official said. Traffic in the
vicinity was restricted.
Eurovision this year attracted a record number of 36 entries, with
Eastern Europeans making a particular effort to prove themselves on
the pan-continental music arena.
The increased interest forced organisers to hold a semi-final on
Wednesday, in which 12 countries were knocked out.
The winner will be chosen by the audiences of participant countries
through tele-voting, which, organisers say, will make Eurovision 2004
the biggest tele-voting event in television history.
The show, to be watched by an estimated 100 million people, will
also be broadcast in Armenia, Australia, Kosovo, Puerto Rico and the
United States.
Tipped as a hot favourite is Greek heartthrob Sakis Rouvas, whose
number Shake It comes complete with an explosive dance spectacle
involving stripping dancers.
He is expected to face a strong challenge from Ukraine’s Ruslana,
a charismatic brunette who wears leather costumes reminiscent of
the Lord of the Rings and performs a stompy dance inspired by ethnic
traditions in the Carpathian mountains.
The songs of Albania, Belgium, Cyprus, Malta, Serbia and Montenegro
and Sweden have also received warm receptions from audiences during
rehearsals.
Also closely watched will be James Fox, who is seeking to restore
Britain’s Eurovision pride following the dreaded nil points with
which his country’s entry was humiliated last year.
For Turkey, the gala event is seen as a unique publicity opportunity
to boost its image in the eyes of a European public often skeptical
over the Muslim nation’s bid to join the European Union.
They hosts are eager to convey messages of religious and cultural
tolerance – the title of the contest is “Under the same sky” and the
stage design is reminiscent of Istanbul’s world-famous monuments such
as the Hagia Sophia church and the Blue Mosque.
Even though Eurovision has marked the onset of several outstanding
careers including those of Abba and Celine Dion, it is mostly
associated with music of questionable merits, bizarre costumes and
last but not least, political bias in the voting.
Cyprus and Greece, for instance, would traditionally award their
respective entries with the maximum points, while countries from the
Baltics, the Balkans and Scandinavia would often extend a helping
hand to neighbours.
And the zero points Britain received last year, many believe, was
Europe’s punishment for Britain’s support for the US-led occupation
of Iraq.
Turkey won the right to host the show when one of its top pop divas,
Sertab Erener, came first in last year’s contest in Riga, after
decades of disappointment for the Muslim nation.
The Eurovision Grand Final will screen on SBS tonight (Sunday) at 7.30.
– AFP

Trustee’s Travels Lead To Narrowing Of Gap Between Bitter Nations
By MICHAEL SEBASTIAN, Journal Reporter
ELK GROVE JOURNAL / Thursday, May 13, 2004
THURSDAY, MAY 13, 2004
Armenia and Azerbaijan are at war. The European and Asian nation,
respectively, have battled each other over territorial issues since
the fall of the Soviet Union. Despite the reigning bitterness, an
elected official from Elk Grove helped, ever so slightly, mend the
gap between the nations by working closely with their youth.
In March, Elk Grove Trustee Patton Feichter traveled to the capitol of
Lithuania — Vilnius — as part of a federally funded, international
teacher exchange program titled Civitas. From March 5 to March 14,
Feichter, a trustee for seven years, worked closely with teachers,
government officials, community leaders and youth of Baltic and former
Soviet bloc countries including Lithuania, Russia, Poland, Latvia,
Romania, Slovakia and Bosnia — as well as Armenia and Azerbaijan.
For an entire day, Feichter and other Civitas representatives visited
the Vilnius Pedagogical University, a teacher’s college, to work with
future and current instructors. The group’s main thrust involved
bringing democracy to a classroom of citizens who view this free
world concept with excitement and uncertainty.
Feichter and others worked with teaching students from three nations
that day — Lithuania, Armenia and Azerbaijan. The only common language
the students shared was Russian, a completely foreign language to
Feichter. Yet with a translator Feichter and the Civitas team brought
the Armenians and Azerbaijanis to a shaky state of cohesion, despite
their reluctance, Feichter admitted.
Together, the foreign teachers learned the many ways to engage their
students in community concerns. A primary example involved flushing
out a problem, for instance, drugs or violence in elementary schools,
then researching the issue in search of an answer.
“The teachers would interview public and school officials and members
of the police department about the problem,” explained Feichter. “This
was a huge step because people from these countries never questioned
authority before.”
The day at Vilnius Pedagogical University was a success, Feichter
indicated. “The students worked well together,” he said adding,
“they were all wonderful to us — very thankful.”
Although the experience was a success, the Civitas team’s involvement
with Lithuanian government was not always light and easy. One day,
Feichter attended a session of the Lithuanian Parliament on the
nation’s Independence Day from the Soviet Union, a seemingly joyous
experience. However, once the formal celebration ceased, the political
wrangling began, according to Feichter. As he watched, members of
parliament continued with the impeachment process of their leader.
“I didn’t know the language,” Feichter commented. “But you could
definitely feel the tension in the room.”
The president was impeached after we left the country, Feichter added.
This Elk Grove trustee is no stranger to government or foreign
relations. A former high school government teacher, now comparative
government at North Park University, Feichter has traveled to Bosnia
almost annually since 1996 constantly stressing the importance of
democracy education. It’s an admittedly deep passion, according
to Feichter.
When not exporting democracy or watching anxious impeachment
proceedings, Feichter enjoyed the native life. He ate a traditional
Lithuanian dinner in a castle one evening. The festivities included
a Lithuanian Elvis Presley impersonator, Feichter chuckled.
“We were treated very well,” explained Feichter. “The only negativity
we received concerned Iraq. Many teachers polled me on our country’s
involvement in Iraq.”
The questioning didn’t faze him though. He will certainly return to
Eastern Europe next year to continue democracy education. Until then
however, Feichter plans to soak up some Lithuanian culture with the
nation’s cuisine. Chicago holds the largest Lithuanian population
outside Lithuania, which is a bonus for Feichter who has fallen in
love with one of their national delicacies — potato pancakes.
“They’ve got some of the best in the world,” he noted.
THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | THURSDAY, MAY 13, 2004
Trustee’s Travels Lead To Narrowing Of Gap Between Bitter Nations By
MICHAEL SEBASTIAN Journal Reporter
Armenia and Azerbaijan are at war. The European and Asian nation,
respectively, have battled each other over territorial issues since
the fall of the Soviet Union. Despite the reigning bitterness, an
elected official from Elk Grove helped, ever so slightly, mend the
gap between the nations by working closely with their youth.
In March, Elk Grove Trustee Patton Feichter traveled to the capitol of
Lithuania — Vilnius — as part of a federally funded, international
teacher exchange program titled Civitas. From March 5 to March 14,
Feichter, a trustee for seven years, worked closely with teachers,
government officials, community leaders and youth of Baltic and former
Soviet bloc countries including Lithuania, Russia, Poland, Latvia,
Romania, Slovakia and Bosnia — as well as Armenia and Azerbaijan.
For an entire day, Feichter and other Civitas representatives visited
the Vilnius Pedagogical University, a teacher’s college, to work with
future and current instructors. The group’s main thrust involved
bringing democracy to a classroom of citizens who view this free
world concept with excitement and uncertainty.
Feichter and others worked with teaching students from three nations
that day — Lithuania, Armenia and Azerbaijan. The only common language
the students shared was Russian, a completely foreign language to
Feichter. Yet with a translator Feichter and the Civitas team brought
the Armenians and Azerbaijanis to a shaky state of cohesion, despite
their reluctance, Feichter admitted.
Together, the foreign teachers learned the many ways to engage their
students in community concerns. A primary example involved flushing
out a problem, for instance, drugs or violence in elementary schools,
then researching the issue in search of an answer.
“The teachers would interview public and school officials and members
of the police department about the problem,” explained Feichter. “This
was a huge step because people from these countries never questioned
authority before.”
The day at Vilnius Pedagogical University was a success, Feichter
indicated. “The students worked well together,” he said adding,
“they were all wonderful to us — very thankful.”
Although the experience was a success, the Civitas team’s involvement
with Lithuanian government was not always light and easy. One day,
Feichter attended a session of the Lithuanian Parliament on the
nation’s Independence Day from the Soviet Union, a seemingly joyous
experience. However, once the formal celebration ceased, the political
wrangling began, according to Feichter. As he watched, members of
parliament continued with the impeachment process of their leader.
“I didn’t know the language,” Feichter commented. “But you could
definitely feel the tension in the room.”
The president was impeached after we left the country, Feichter added.
This Elk Grove trustee is no stranger to government or foreign
relations. A former high school government teacher, now comparative
government at North Park University, Feichter has traveled to Bosnia
almost annually since 1996 constantly stressing the importance of
democracy education. It’s an admittedly deep passion, according
to Feichter.
When not exporting democracy or watching anxious impeachment
proceedings, Feichter enjoyed the native life. He ate a traditional
Lithuanian dinner in a castle one evening. The festivities included
a Lithuanian Elvis Presley impersonator, Feichter chuckled.
“We were treated very well,” explained Feichter. “The only negativity
we received concerned Iraq. Many teachers polled me on our country’s
involvement in Iraq.”
The questioning didn’t faze him though. He will certainly return to
Eastern Europe next year to continue democracy education. Until then
however, Feichter plans to soak up some Lithuanian culture with the
nation’s cuisine. Chicago holds the largest Lithuanian population
outside Lithuania, which is a bonus for Feichter who has fallen in
love with one of their national delicacies — potato pancakes.
“They’ve got some of the best in the world,” he noted.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azeris insist on return of occupied districts in exchange for opening railway
Azad Azarbaycan TV, Baku
15 May 04
[Presenter Namiq Aliyev] The sides only exchanged ideas at the
Strasbourg meeting of the Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers,
and the co-chairmen [of the OSCE Minsk Group] did not voice specific
proposals, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov has
said. According to him, the reopening of the Baku-Naxcivan-Yerevan
railway in return for the liberation of the seven occupied lands will
be the main subject of the talks in the future as well.
[Correspondent over video of Mammadyarov speaking to microphone]
Despite the Yerevan government’s denial, the liberation of the seven
districts under Armenian occupation was discussed at the Strasbourg
meeting of the Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers, Mammadyarov
said in an exclusive interview with Azad Azarbaycan TV on his return
from the Strasbourg meeting. We should recall that Armenian Foreign
Minister Vardan Oskanyan had denied that the issue of the seven
districts was discussed and had described this subject as absurd. But
Mr Mammadyarov said that this issue, which was discussed in Strasbourg,
would be included in the agenda of the future talks as well.
[Mammadyarov] You are aware of Azerbaijan’s position on the railway
and the seven districts. We, the Azerbaijani side, will always put it
forward as an idea. Well, this is Azerbaijan’s idea. The Armenian side
expressed its idea as well. The co-chairmen expressed their ideas as
well. We think that this exchange of ideas is to be continued at the
next meetings.
[Correspondent] Describing the Strasbourg talks as useful on the whole,
Mammadyarov did not reveal the details of the meeting. According to
him, the sides agreed to keep the results in secret.
[Mammadyarov] We had a very useful exchange of ideas at the meeting
and agreed to continue these meetings. For the time being, this is the
only thing I can say, because we decided to continue these meetings
and exchange any ideas in a confidential way.
[Correspondent] Mr Mammadyarov added that after submitting a report to
President Ilham Aliyev about the Strasbourg meeting, he could answer
specific questions. We should recall that the co-chairmen of the OSCE
Minsk Group attended the talks as well. As for the new proposals on
the settlement of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict, Mr Mammadyarov said
that all this was only an idea so far.
[Mammadyarov] I would not say that they were in the form of new
proposals. All this is an exchange of ideas. At the moment, we,
each side, express our own opinions. The time will show which ideas
will turn into proposals in the future.
[Correspondent] The sides also discussed a meeting between the
Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents in Astana. According to
Mammadyarov, if the heads of state’s schedule makes it possible,
their meeting will take place this autumn.
Rasad Huseynov, Bahruz Maharramov and Ziyad Aliyev for “Son Xabar”.